Boston YMHA Hecht House

              Tho Survey Committee which was appointed at the meeting of tho Steeling Cammit-
too of tho Dorchester Golden Age Club on Juno 29, 195U wishes to submit the following progress report.
Lettors wox-c sontto the National Council of Jewish Womon and the National
Jewish Welfare Board requesting infoxmation on evening Golden Ago Club meetings
in othor areas. Although roplios wex-e soon forthcoming, tho natux-o of tho roports
on the success of othor clubs was so vague and undetailed as to bo of little value
in ascertaining thoir applicability to the Dorchester Club, The Rod Feather agencies in and around Boston were also contacted and it was found that cci-tain groups
do have evening sessions of ono kind or another, but again their oxpciiencos wore
not applicable to this club.
It was tho fooling of the Sui-vey Committee that anothor letter should go to
tho National offices of tho Jewish agencies involved x-cquesting the names ci'
specific clubs which hold evening moctings so that contact may bo made dircct.ly
with them and a survey questionnaix-c sent upon which wo might base somo dofinitj
conclusions.
However, tho Survey Committoc gave much consideration to certain aspect,'- o^
the pi-oUloms facing the oxpansion of the Golden Age club and, in thoir best judgo-
mont, reached certain conclusions,
1, Physical facilitios for evening Meetings.
It was folt that it would be veiy difficult to houso the group in Heoht
Houso main building in the evening because of the scope of its usual evening activities. If tho bungalow can be wcathex*-proofed, then it was a certainty that c\*ey.
a program could bo developed,
2, Would thore bo transportation problems?
Due to tho difficulty encountered by some members in reaching Hccha- H
it was felt that 3omo arrangomont might be made with tho MTA to rcrouto a bus. ,1
ing service for ono trip and return to a given point.
3, Staffing with a professional and volunteers.
Assuming that such a sossion or sessions came into being, it was felt that
a professional would bo available, but there was a question on whether on not Council volunteers would bo available in tho ovening. There wci*o indications that vcl-
urttocrs might bo availablo from the Hecht Rouse Women's association,
ke Whothcr to replace an afternoon sossion which has a consistently light
attendance with an evening session.
Hero there was a divergence of opinion. Some members of the committee
folt that psychologically, it might moan to some of the Golden Agoi*s a c_*talmont
of activities rather than an expansion. On the othor hand, some felt that it migiv'
mean only a slight sacrifice on the part of a few to achieve greater happiness for
many, not only old membors but an entirely new group who heretofore have not boon
ablo to attend afternoon meetings,
5, Financially is tho expanded program foasiblc.
The appx-oximatc cost, at px*oscnt, of maintaining a five session program
is $2600, which includes a staff workerj heat, light, and janitoxial service; and
refreshments. If it is decided to include a sixth session, the additional cost
would bo roughly $520, extra.
6, Would such a program attract a new group not not*, boing rcachod.